General News of Tuesday, 25 April 2006

Source: Joy Online

Volta Lake disaster survivors appeal for food aid

According to JoyFM, survivors of the recent boat accident on the Volta Lake have appealed to government for food aid and better protection.

The survivors say they have been left at the mercy of the weather on an island, where they can?t get food or portable water.

Thousands of people mainly women have been dumped at Manchari at the side of the Volta Lake.

The people are suffering especially children due to the non availability of shelter, food and lack of medical attention.

Both men and women bath in the open as they cannot continue sustaining the temporal structure meant for bathing.

Animals are their companions since they sleep together at night.

In their real life situation 25 year old Abena Owusuaa narrated her traumatic moment.

?? The children are sick. Since we were sacked we were not getting any food and even where to sleep is even a problem,?

After a month of safe delivery, none of the babies have been given medical attention.

Others also allege that they were physically assaulted and sexually harassed by officials of the wildlife department at Dija before they were transported to the Manchari.

?What is disturbing us is that the officials of the Game and Wildlife are maltreating us, they just beat us. Since they sacked us they just kept beating us,?